🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Glitzy Grand Finale This article reveals the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances including a freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious pair faced fierce competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple performed routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds created, the struggles conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.
This article reveals the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event. Watch: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's grand finale. Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed". It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a standing ovation. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the final decision. Carney and Gu performed dances including a freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the dance floor in the final. But the victorious pair faced fierce competition from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The couple performed routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance. Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair. A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the historic final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds created, the struggles conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all. "The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.